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Okada Manila

Philippines, Manila

APPT Manila 2026

2026.07.28 - 2026.08.10 Add to Calendar

Asia Pacific Poker Tour

Updates Chip Counts Info

Blind level

Level 36: 300,000 / 600,000 ante: 600,000

Entries

1/599

Total Chips

17,970,000

Average

17,970,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 6:40:00 PM

Rafael Medel Wins APPT National for PHP 2,525,000 (~USD 41,270)

Level 36: 300,000 / 600,000 ante: 600,000

Rafael Medel

Rafael Medel has captured the APPT National title at APPT Manila 2026, lifting the festival's first coveted APPT Shard Trophy alongside the PHP 2,525,000 (~USD 41,270) top prize.

Outlasting a 599-entry field, Medel took control when it mattered most. He put together an impressive final table performance, personally eliminating six of the eight players on his way to the title.

Even after falling behind by 5-to-1 during heads-up play, he fought his way back to complete the comeback and secure the APPT National crown.

Congratulations to Rafael Medel on a sensational run and a well-deserved APPT National victory!

Place	Player	Prize (PHP)	Prize (USD)
1	RM Rafael MedelPhilippines	2,525,000	$41,270

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 6:26:40 PM

Isaac Hechanova Eliminated in 2nd Place for PHP 2,025,000 (~USD 33,100)

Level 36: 300,000 / 600,000 ante: 600,000

Isaac Hechanova

After winning a series of key pots, Rafael Medel reclaimed the chip lead and never looked back.

Moments later, following a heavy preflop betting war, Isaac Hechanova was all in for 8,500,000, with Medel holding him covered by a narrow margin.

Isaac Hechanova: Q♣ T♣

Rafael Medel: A♦ K♠

The K♦ 8♠ 5♥ flop paired Medel's king, leaving Hechanova needing running cards to stay alive.

The 7♣ turn ended those hopes, making the J♣ river a formality.

Hechanova's outstanding run came to an end in 2nd place, while Rafael Medel completed the comeback to capture the APPT National title and the inaugural APPT Shard Trophy of APPT Manila 2026.

Rafael Medel

Player	Chips	Progress
RM Rafael MedelPhilippines	17,970,000(30 BB)	7,470,000
IH Isaac HechanovaPhilippines	busted	-8,500,000

Place	Player	Prize (PHP)	Prize (USD)
2	IH Isaac HechanovaPhilippines	2,025,000	$33,100

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 6:21:29 PM

Nearly Two Hours Heads-Up

Level 36: 300,000 / 600,000 ante: 600,000

Nearly two hours into heads-up play, neither player has been willing to give an inch as the battle for the APPT National title continues.

The chip lead has changed hands several times throughout the duel, with both Isaac Hechanova and Rafael Medel finding timely double ups and winning key pots to stay in contention.

At the moment, Hechanova holds a slight advantage, but with the stacks still relatively close, the championship remains very much up for grabs.

Player	Chips	Progress
IH Isaac HechanovaPhilippines	10,500,000(18 BB)	2,000,000
RM Rafael MedelPhilippines	7,500,000(13 BB)	-2,000,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 5:46:47 PM

Momentum Back To Medel

Level 34: 150,000 / 300,000 ante: 300,000

Rafael Medel

After a series of well-timed pots, Rafael Medel has flipped the script and reclaimed the chip lead in the heads-up battle.

What was once a sizeable advantage for Isaac Hechanova has steadily disappeared, with Medel methodically chipping away at his opponent's stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
RM Rafael MedelPhilippines	12,000,000(40 BB)	-3,000,000
IH Isaac HechanovaPhilippines	7,000,000(23 BB)	3,000,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 5:17:06 PM

Medel Battles Back

Level 33: 125,000 / 250,000 ante: 250,000

Just when it looked like Isaac Hechanova was pulling away, Rafael Medel found a timely double up to keep his title hopes alive.

The crucial pot trimmed Hechanova's advantage significantly, leaving the two players nearly even in chips once again.

Player	Chips	Progress
IH Isaac HechanovaPhilippines	9,000,000(36 BB)	-6,000,000
RM Rafael MedelPhilippines	9,000,000(36 BB)	6,000,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 5:08:55 PM

Hechanova Opens Big Lead

Level 33: 125,000 / 250,000 ante: 250,000

Isaac Hechanova

Isaac Hechanova limped from the button before Rafael Medel raised to 850,000. Hechanova then four-bet to 2,300,000, and Medel responded by moving all in. Hechanova snap-called for his remaining 7,375,000, setting up the biggest pot of the heads-up match.

Isaac Hechanova: A♥ K♣

Rafael Medel: A♠ J♦

Hechanova had Medel dominated and remained firmly in control after the K♥ 8♣ 6♠ flop paired his king. The 6♣ turn changed nothing, leaving Medel drawing dead before the river.

The 5♦ river was a formality, and Hechanova secured the massive double up to seize a commanding 5-to-1 chip advantage in the battle for the APPT National title.

Rafael Medel

Player	Chips	Progress
IH Isaac HechanovaPhilippines	15,000,000(60 BB)	6,500,000
RM Rafael MedelPhilippines	3,000,000(12 BB)	-7,500,000

Level 33: 125,000 / 250,000 ante: 250,000

40 minutes

Remaining Players: 2/599

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 4:56:18 PM

Lead Changes Heads-Up

Level 32: 100,000 / 200,000 ante: 200,000

After beginning heads-up play at a slight chip disadvantage, Rafael Medel has battled his way into the lead over Isaac Hechanova.

The match remains far from over, however, with plenty of chips still in play and momentum capable of swinging in either direction.

Player	Chips	Progress
RM Rafael MedelPhilippines	10,500,000(53 BB)	2,035,000
IH Isaac HechanovaPhilippines	8,500,000(43 BB)	-880,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 4:35:00 PM

Final Two Set For Showdown

Level 32: 100,000 / 200,000 ante: 200,000

Heads Up

After more than 12 hours of play on Day 2, the APPT National is down to its final two contenders. Isaac Hechanova holds a slight chip lead over Rafael Medel as they prepare for the final duel.

Before the cards went back in the air, the two players agreed to a heads-up deal, locking up PHP 2,025,000 (~USD 33,100) each.

Still left to play for are PHP 500,000 (~USD 8,170) in additional prize money, the APPT Championship 2026 package, and the first APPT Shard Trophy awarded at APPT Manila 2026.

With the payouts settled, all that's left is the title as Hechanova and Medel battle to become the APPT National champion.

Player	Chips	Progress
IH Isaac HechanovaPhilippines	9,380,000(47 BB)	-100,000
RM Rafael MedelPhilippines	8,465,000(42 BB)

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 4:25:00 PM

Juhyung Son Eliminated in 3rd Place for PHP 1,250,000 (~USD 20,330)

Level 32: 100,000 / 200,000 ante: 200,000

Juhyung Son

On the very next hand after losing a massive pot, Juhyung Son moved all in for 800,000. Initial raiser Rafael Medel quickly made the call.

Juhyung Son: 8♦ 6♥

Rafael Medel: K♦ T♦

Medel stayed in front throughout the hand as the A♠ A♣ 5♦ flop offered Son no help. The K♣ turn paired Medel's king to leave Son drawing dead before the river.

Son's run ended in 3rd place, while Medel recorded his fifth knockout of the final table. Of the seven eliminations so far, five have come at Medel's hands as he advanced to heads-up play against Isaac Hechanova.

Rafael Medel

Player	Chips	Progress
RM Rafael MedelPhilippines	8,465,000(42 BB)	1,265,000
JS Juhyung SonSouth Korea	busted	-1,000,000

Place	Player	Prize (PHP)	Prize (USD)
3	JS Juhyung SonSouth Korea	1,250,000	$20,330

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 4:17:44 PM

Hechanova Wins Huge Flip

Level 32: 100,000 / 200,000 ante: 200,000

Isaac Hechanova and Juhyung Son

With three players remaining, Juhyung Son opened to 400,000 from the button. In the big blind, Isaac Hechanova responded by three-bet shoving for 4,590,000.

Son went deep into the tank before eventually making the call.

Isaac Hechanova: J♥ 9♥

Juhyung Son: A♦ Q♦

Although behind preflop, Hechanova found the lead on the K♣ J♠ 4♣ flop after pairing his jack. The 7♦ turn and 4♥ river failed to improve Son, securing the massive double up for the Filipino.

The huge pot vaulted Hechanova into the lead, while Son was left with just five big blinds.

Player	Chips	Progress
IH Isaac HechanovaPhilippines	9,480,000(47 BB)	2,180,000
JS Juhyung SonSouth Korea	1,000,000(5 BB)	-3,155,000

Level 32: 100,000 / 200,000 ante: 200,000

40 minutes

Remaining Players: 3/599

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 3:59:00 PM

Donghyeon Won Eliminated in 4th Place for PHP 970,000 (~USD 15,775)

Level 31: 80,000 / 160,000 ante: 160,000

Donghyeon Won

Under the gun, Donghyeon Won opened to 350,000. On the button, Rafael Medel three-bet to 1,000,000.

Back on Won, he responded with a four-bet shove, only to be snap-called by Medel.

Donghyeon Won: A♥ K♦

Rafael Medel: K♠ K♥

Won needed an ace to survive, but none appeared as the board ran out 9♠ 4♦ 3♣ 3♥ 2♠, allowing Medel's pocket kings to hold.

Won was eliminated in 4th place, while Medel collected his fourth knockout of the final table. Of the six players eliminated so far, four have fallen at Medel's hands, as he marches into three-handed play with tremendous momentum.

Player	Chips	Progress
RM Rafael MedelPhilippines	7,200,000(45 BB)	2,890,000
DW Donghyeon WonSouth Korea	busted	-2,475,000

Place	Player	Prize (PHP)	Prize (USD)
4	DW Donghyeon WonSouth Korea	970,000	$15,775

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 3:50:00 PM

Final 4 Players

Level 31: 80,000 / 160,000 ante: 160,000

Player	Chips	Progress
IH Isaac HechanovaPhilippines	7,300,000(46 BB)	1,300,000
RM Rafael MedelPhilippines	4,310,000(27 BB)	-310,000
JS Juhyung SonSouth Korea	4,155,000(26 BB)	-145,000
DW Donghyeon WonSouth Korea	2,475,000(15 BB)	-525,000

Level 31: 80,000 / 160,000 ante: 160,000

40 minutes

Remaining Players: 4/599

Break

15 minutes

Remaining Players: 4/599

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 3:36:00 PM

Jingliang Chen Eliminated in 5th Place for PHP 740,000 (~USD 12,035)

Level 30: 60,000 / 120,000 ante: 120,000

Jingliang Chen

Folded to the button, Isaac Hechanova announced all in, looking to steal the blinds. Instead, Jingliang Chen found a hand in the big blind and called off his remaining 1,390,000 chips.

Jingliang Chen: K♠ J♠

Isaac Hechanova: A♦ 9♣

Hechanova immediately took control on the A♣ 5♥ 4♥ flop after pairing his ace, leaving Chen with very few ways to survive.

The 2♠ turn gave Chen a few chop possibilities, but the 6♣ river changed nothing.

Chen's run came to an end in 5th place, while Hechanova continued to build on his chip lead.

Player	Chips	Progress
IH Isaac HechanovaPhilippines	6,000,000(50 BB)	1,440,000
JC Jingliang ChenChina	busted	-1,705,000

Place	Player	Prize (PHP)	Prize (USD)
5	JC Jingliang ChenChina	740,000	$12,035

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 3:27:49 PM

Edison Yu Eliminated in 6th Place for PHP 570,000 (~USD 9,270)

Level 30: 60,000 / 120,000 ante: 120,000

Edison Yu

Rafael Medel opened to 250,000, and on his left, Edison Yu responded by shoving for approximately 1,500,000. Medel wasted no time making the call.

Edison Yu: Q♣ Q♠

Rafael Medel: A♥ K♦

It was a classic flip for Yu's tournament life, but the K♣ J♦ 5♠ flop immediately swung the advantage to Medel after pairing his king, leaving Yu with just two remaining queens.

The 7♣ turn changed nothing, and the T♣ river sealed the result.

Yu was eliminated in 6th place, while Medel collected yet another knockout to strengthen his position at the final table.

Player	Chips	Progress
RM Rafael MedelPhilippines	4,620,000(39 BB)	1,690,000
EY Edison YuPhilippines	busted	-2,380,000

Place	Player	Prize (PHP)	Prize (USD)
6	EY Edison YuPhilippines	570,000	$9,270

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 3:16:03 PM

James Bonanno Eliminated in 7th Place for PHP 430,000 (~USD 6,995)

Level 30: 60,000 / 120,000 ante: 120,000

James Bonanno

Hijack Juhyung Son continued applying pressure, opening to 250,000. In the small blind, James Bonanno three-bet shoved for 1,175,000, and after a brief tank, Son made the call.

James Bonanno: A♥ 9♣

Juhyung Son: 7♥ 7♠

Bonanno was flipping for his tournament life but couldn't connect as the board ran out K♦ 6♦ 3♥ Q♠ 5♥, keeping Son's pocket sevens in front.

Bonanno's remarkable comeback came to an end in 7th place. Earlier in the day, he was down to less than a single big blind before mounting an incredible recovery that briefly saw him become the tournament chip leader.

Player	Chips	Progress
JS Juhyung SonSouth Korea	4,300,000(36 BB)	2,825,000
JB James BonannoUnited States of America	busted	-1,400,000

Place	Player	Prize (PHP)	Prize (USD)
7	JB James BonannoUnited States of America	430,000	$6,995

Level 30: 60,000 / 120,000 ante: 120,000

40 minutes

Remaining Players: 7/599

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 2:49:18 PM

Kaoru Kishimoto Eliminated in 8th Place for PHP 340,000 (~USD 5,530)

Level 29: 50,000 / 100,000 ante: 100,000

Kaoru Kishimoto

After losing most of his stack to Donghyeon Won, Kaoru Kishimoto was left with just 200,000 and moved all in from the button. Rafael Medel called from the small blind, and James Bonanno came along from the big blind.

Both players checked the T♦ 8♥ 6♥ flop. When the 9♠ fell on the turn, Medel bet 175,000, prompting Bonanno to fold.

Kaoru Kishimoto: A♦ 8♣

Rafael Medel: 9♣ 7♣

Medel had flopped the nut straight, leaving Kishimoto drawing dead before the 3♦ river was dealt.

Kishimoto's run came to an end in 8th place, while Medel picked up his second elimination of the final table.

Player	Chips	Progress
DW Donghyeon WonSouth Korea	3,000,000(30 BB)	1,110,000
RM Rafael MedelPhilippines	2,930,000(29 BB)	660,000
JB James BonannoUnited States of America	1,400,000(14 BB)	-625,000
KK Kaoru KishimotoJapan	busted	-920,000

Place	Player	Prize (PHP)	Prize (USD)
8	KK Kaoru KishimotoJapan	340,000	$5,530

Level 29: 50,000 / 100,000 ante: 100,000

40 minutes

Remaining Players: 8/599

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 2:20:15 PM

Lukasz Jankowski Eliminated in 9th Place for PHP 277,080 (~USD 4,505)

Level 28: 40,000 / 80,000 ante: 80,000

Lukasz Jankowski

Rafael Mendel opened to 160,000, and from the small blind, Lukasz Jankowski three-bet shoved for 735,000. Mendel quickly made the call, putting Jankowski at risk.

Lukasz Jankowski: K♣ Q♦

Rafael Mendel: 8♠ 8♣

Jankowski was in a race preflop, but the 9♦ 9♣ 8♥ flop heavily favored Mendel, giving him a full house and leaving Jankowski nearly drawind dead.

The Q♠ turn paired Jankowski's queen to keep him alive for one more card, but the 4♦ river changed nothing.

Jankowski became the first casualty of the APPT National final table, finishing in 9th place.

Rafael Mendel

Player	Chips	Progress
RM Rafael MedelPhilippines	2,270,000(28 BB)	595,000
LJ Lukasz JankowskiPoland	busted	-1,025,000

Place	Player	Prize (PHP)	Prize (USD)
9	LJ Lukasz JankowskiPoland	277,080	$4,505

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 2:15:00 PM

Hechanova Leads Final Nine in APPT National

Level 28: 40,000 / 80,000 ante: 80,000

APPT National Final Table

From a field of 599 entries, the APPT National is now down to its final nine players, with the official final table set at Cove Manila inside Okada Manila.

Every finalist has locked up at least PHP 277,080 (~USD 4,505), but the focus remains firmly on the PHP 2,800,000 (~USD 45,540) top prize, along with the coveted APPT National title and APPT Championship 2026 Package awaiting the champion.

Isaac Hechanova

Leading the final table is Isaac Hechanova, who carries 4,560,000 chips into the finale after a remarkable Day 2 that included a fearless ace-high hero call against James Bonanno in one of the tournament's biggest pots.

With the tournament reaching its climax, the structure now shifts from timed levels to 20 hands per level, ensuring a fair and measured pace as the remaining players battle for the title.

The finalists are currently on a short break while the tournament staff prepares the feature table and player introductions. Cards will be back in the air shortly as the race to crown the first APPT National champion of the series resumes.

Stay tuned to Somuchpoker for complete final table coverage, including every elimination, key hand, chip count update, and the crowning of the newest APPT National champion.

Final Table Chip Count

Player	Chips	Progress
IH Isaac HechanovaPhilippines	4,560,000(57 BB)	410,000
EY Edison YuPhilippines	2,380,000(30 BB)	-20,000
JB James BonannoUnited States of America	2,025,000(25 BB)	425,000
DW Donghyeon WonSouth Korea	1,890,000(24 BB)	950,000
JC Jingliang ChenChina	1,705,000(21 BB)	155,000
RM Rafael MedelPhilippines	1,675,000(21 BB)
JS Juhyung SonSouth Korea	1,475,000(18 BB)	-360,000
LJ Lukasz JankowskiPoland	1,025,000(13 BB)	-150,000
KK Kaoru KishimotoJapan	920,000(12 BB)	-480,000

Final Table Payouts

Place	Payout (PHP)	Payout (USD)
1	2,800,000	$45,540
2	1,750,000	$28,465
3	1,250,000	$20,330
4	970,000	$15,775
5	740,000	$12,035
6	570,000	$9,270
7	430,000	$6,995
8	340,000	$5,530
9	277,080	$4,505

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 1:45:00 PM

Yu Seals Final Table

Level 28: 40,000 / 80,000 ante: 80,000

Edison Yu

Under the gun, Arjun Dhingra open-shoved for 740,000. On the button, Edison Yu made the call, putting Dhingra at risk.

Arjun Dhingra: A♦ 8♦

Edison Yu: A♥ K♦

Dhingra was heavily dominated heading into the showdown, but the J♥ T♣ T♦ flop gave him additional outs.

The K♥ turn left Dhingra hoping to chop the pot with a queen, but the K♠ river instead gave Yu a full house, ending Dhingra's run in 10th place.

With Dhingra's elimination, the APPT National final table is officially set.

Player	Chips	Progress
EY Edison YuPhilippines	2,400,000(30 BB)	930,000
AD Arjun DhingraIndia	busted	-580,000

Place	Player	Prize (PHP)	Prize (USD)
10	AD Arjun DhingraIndia	225,000	$3,660

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 1:40:00 PM

River Flush Ends Bellchambers' Run

Level 28: 40,000 / 80,000 ante: 80,000

Rafael Medel

From early position, Rafael Medel open-shoved, and Gary Bellchambers called all in for 355,000 from the small blind.

Gary Bellchambers: A♠ T♣

Rafael Medel: Q♦ Q♠

Bellchambers surged into the lead on the A♦ 6♣ 2♦ flop after pairing his ace. The 5♦ turn, however, gave Medel additional outs with a flush draw.

The 6♦ river completed Medel's flush, turning the tables and sending Bellchambers to the rail in 11th place.

Player	Chips	Progress
RM Rafael MedelPhilippines	1,675,000(21 BB)	-185,000
GB Gary BellchambersUnited Kingdom	busted	-635,000

Place	Player	Prize (PHP)	Prize (USD)
11	GB Gary BellchambersUnited Kingdom	225,000	$3,660

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 1:35:00 PM

The Ace High Hero Call

Level 28: 40,000 / 80,000 ante: 80,000

James Bonanno and Isaac Hechanova

With approximately 1,500,000 already in the middle, the board read T♦ 9♣ 6♣ 8♦ 4♥ as two of the tournament's biggest stacks went to battle.

James Bonanno fired a 600,000 river bet. Isaac Hechanova went deep into the tank, burning a time bank before eventually tossing in the call.

Bonanno could only show K♣ J♦ for king-high.

Hechanova turned over A♣ Q♥, just ace-high, but it was enough to drag in the massive pot.

A fearless hero call from the young Filipino, picking off a huge bluff and adding another monster pot to his growing stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
IH Isaac HechanovaPhilippines	4,150,000(52 BB)	1,340,000
JB James BonannoUnited States of America	1,600,000(20 BB)	-795,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 1:25:00 PM

Right On Cue!

Level 28: 40,000 / 80,000 ante: 80,000

Kaoru Kishimoto

From the cutoff, Donghyeon Won opened to 160,000 and instantly called Kaoru Kishimoto's shove for 620,000.

Kaoru Kishimoto: 8♦ 8♥

Donghyeon Won: A♦ K♥

The A♠ Q♦ 6♠ flop swung the advantage to Won after he paired his ace, leaving Kishimoto with just two outs.

One of them arrived immediately on the 8♠ turn, giving Kishimoto a set and sealing the hand before the meaningless 5♦ river.

Kishimoto secured a full double up, while Won surrendered a sizeable portion of his stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
KK Kaoru KishimotoJapan	1,400,000(18 BB)	635,000
DW Donghyeon WonSouth Korea	940,000(12 BB)	-645,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 1:15:00 PM

APPT National Final 12 Chip Counts

Level 28: 40,000 / 80,000 ante: 80,000

Player	Chips	Progress
IH Isaac HechanovaPhilippines	2,810,000(35 BB)	130,000
JB James BonannoUnited States of America	2,395,000(30 BB)	-155,000
RM Rafael MedelPhilippines	1,860,000(23 BB)	1,165,000
JS Juhyung SonSouth Korea	1,835,000(23 BB)	55,000
DW Donghyeon WonSouth Korea	1,585,000(20 BB)	-180,000
JC Jingliang ChenChina	1,550,000(19 BB)	1,070,000
EY Edison YuPhilippines	1,470,000(18 BB)	795,000
LJ Lukasz JankowskiPoland	1,175,000(15 BB)	-640,000
KK Kaoru KishimotoJapan	765,000(10 BB)	455,000
GB Gary BellchambersUnited Kingdom	635,000(8 BB)	-265,000
AD Arjun DhingraIndia	580,000(7 BB)	-685,000
LP Liao Po HsunTaiwan	210,000(3 BB)	-1,390,000

Level 28: 40,000 / 80,000 ante: 80,000

40 minutes

Remaining Players: 12/599

Break

15 minutes

Remaining Players: 12/599

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 12:35:00 PM

Dominated And Eliminated

Level 27: 30,000 / 60,000 ante: 60,000

Chee Chuan Chea

Left with 535,000 chips, Chee Chuan Chea moved all in from early position. Sitting immediately to his left, Liao Po Hsun reshoved, successfully isolating the pot.

Chee Chuan Chea: A♣ J♥

Liao Po Hsun: A♦ Q♥

Chea was dominated heading into the showdown and found no help on the 8♥ 6♦ 4♣ flop.

The Q♣ on the turn sealed the win in Hsun's favor, making the 2♥ river a formality.

Player	Chips	Progress
LP Liao Po HsunTaiwan	1,600,000(27 BB)	890,000
CC Chee Chuan CheaMalaysia	busted	-958,000

Level 27: 30,000 / 60,000 ante: 60,000

40 minutes

Remaining Players: 13/599

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 12:10:00 PM

Double KO Sends Hechanova Ahead

Level 26: 25,000 / 50,000 ante: 50,000

Isaac Hechanova

Gary Guerrero open-shoved for 485,000 and was immediately reshoved on by Joseph Biegler for 880,000. The action wasn't over yet, as Isaac Hechanova woke up with a monster in the cutoff and announced all in, setting up a three-way showdown.

Gary Guerrero: A♠ 6♥

Joseph Biegler: A♥ J♦

Isaac Hechanova: K♦ K♣

Hechanova's pocket kings remained firmly in front as the board ran out 7♣ 4♦ 2♦ 7♠ 4♣, avoiding any ace to scoop the massive pot.

The double knockout sent both Guerrero and Biegler to the rail, while Hechanova vaulted into the chip lead with the tournament down to its final stages.

Player	Chips	Progress
IH Isaac HechanovaPhilippines	2,680,000(54 BB)	1,680,000
JB Joseph BieglerUnited States of America	busted	-1,015,000
GG Gary GuerreroPhilippines	busted	-260,000

Place	Player	Prize (PHP)	Prize (USD)
15	JB Joseph BieglerUnited States of America	158,000	$2,570
16	GG Gary GuerreroPhilippines	137,000	$2,230

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 11:57:00 AM

Gary vs Gary

Level 26: 25,000 / 50,000 ante: 50,000

Gary Bellchambers

From early position, Gary Guerrero opened to 100,000 before Gary Bellchambers three-bet shoved for 400,000 from the small blind. Guerrero made the call.

Gary Bellchambers: A♥ 7♣

Gary Guerrero: Q♠ J♣

The 8♦ 7♦ 7♥ flop was a dream for Bellchambers, giving him trip sevens and leaving Guerrero needing running help.

The Q♣ turn paired Guerrero's queen to give him a two outs, but the 4♦ river was no help.

Bellchambers secured the crucial double up to stay alive as the APPT National field continued to shrink.

Player	Chips	Progress
GB Gary BellchambersUnited Kingdom	900,000(18 BB)	125,000
GG Gary GuerreroPhilippines	260,000(5 BB)	-1,070,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 11:46:00 AM

Bonanno Keeps Rolling

Level 26: 25,000 / 50,000 ante: 50,000

James Bonanno

Fresh into the new level, Wooseong Lee found himself all in for 870,000 after a preflop betting war against chip leader James Bonanno, who quickly made the call.

Wooseong Lee: K♣ Q♣

James Bonanno: A♥ A♠

Lee was in rough shape but found a glimmer of hope on the Q♦ 7♣ 4♦ flop, pairing his queen. It wasn't enough, however, as the 9♠ turn and 3♠ river failed to improve him further.

Lee's run came to an end with the field down to the final two tables, while Bonanno continued his incredible comeback, adding yet another knockout to his growing stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
JB James BonannoUnited States of America	2,550,000(51 BB)	350,000
WL Wooseong LeeSouth Korea	busted	-1,450,000

Level 26: 25,000 / 50,000 ante: 50,000

40 minutes

Remaining Players: 17/599

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 11:28:00 AM

Kim's Run Comes To An End

Level 25: 20,000 / 40,000 ante: 40,000

Gunah Kim

Start-of-day chip leader Gunah Kim has been eliminated in 18th place, bringing an end to what had been a promising run.

Kim entered Day 2 with a commanding lead after bagging the biggest stack of the opening flights and remained among the front-runners for much of the day. However, despite the strong start and a deep run, he was unable to convert his chip advantage into a final table appearance.

Recent Elimination 18-24

Place	Player	Prize (PHP)	Prize (USD)
18	GK Gunah KimSouth Korea	119,000	$1,935
20	KK Kunwoo KimSouth Korea	119,000	$1,935
21	DB Dmitrii BelikovRussia	104,000	$1,690
22	JY Jingzhong YaoChina	104,000	$1,690
23	NM Nichols ManaloPhilippines	104,000	$1,690
24	SH Suk Hyang JunSouth Korea	91,000	$1,480

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 11:15:00 AM

From One Blind To Chip Leader

Level 25: 20,000 / 40,000 ante: 40,000

What a turnaround from James Bonanno!

Not long ago, Bonanno was down to just 15,000 chips, less than a single big blind, and one card away from heading to the payout desk.

Fast forward to the final 19 players, and he's now sitting behind 2,200,000 chips, the largest stack in the room.

It's the kind of comeback every poker player dreams about and a reminder that in tournament poker, you're never truly out until your last chip is gone.

Player	Chips	Progress
JB James BonannoUnited States of America	2,200,000(55 BB)	1,715,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 11:03:00 AM

Chip Leaders!

Level 25: 20,000 / 40,000 ante: 40,000

Lukasz Jankowski

Player	Chips	Progress
LJ Lukasz JankowskiPoland	1,815,000(45 BB)	515,000
JS Juhyung SonSouth Korea	1,780,000(45 BB)	840,000
DW Donghyeon WonSouth Korea	1,765,000(44 BB)	-75,000
WL Wooseong LeeSouth Korea	1,450,000(36 BB)	862,000
GG Gary GuerreroPhilippines	1,330,000(33 BB)	60,000
AD Arjun DhingraIndia	1,265,000(32 BB)	923,000
JB Joseph BieglerUnited States of America	1,015,000(25 BB)	-80,000

Level 25: 20,000 / 40,000 ante: 40,000

40 minutes

Remaining Players: 19/599

Break

15 minutes

Remaining Players: 19/599

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 10:34:00 AM

Big Flip Ends Belikov's Run

Level 24: 15,000 / 30,000 ante: 30,000

Dmitrii Belikov

From early position, Joseph Biegler opened to 60,000 before Dmitrii Belikov responded with a raise to 400,000 from the big blind, leaving himself just 95,000 behind.

Biegler wasted little time moving all in for 555,000, putting Belikov to the test. After a brief tank, Belikov committed the rest of his stack.

Dmitrii Belikov: 9♣ 9♦

Joseph Biegler: A♦ Q♦

The A♥ J♥ 3♦ flop heavily favored Biegler, pairing his ace. Belikov was left hoping for one of the two remaining nines, but neither the 4♥ turn nor the 7♠ river provided any help.

Biegler held on to win the flip, sending Belikov to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
JB Joseph BieglerUnited States of America	1,095,000(37 BB)	815,000
DB Dmitrii BelikovRussia	busted	-785,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 10:24:00 AM

New Chip Leader Emerges

Level 24: 15,000 / 30,000 ante: 30,000

Donghyeon Won

Jingzhong Yao limped from early position before Donghyeon Won raised to 190,000 from the small blind. Back on Yao, he took a moment before moving all in for 550,000, only to be snap-called by Won.

Jingzhong Yao: T♥ T♣

Donghyeon Won: K♥ K♠

Yao was left searching for one of two remaining tens, but the 5♥ 4♣ 3♥ 6♠ 8♦ board offered no help.

Won’s pocket kings held to eliminate Yao, who had spent much of the day among the chip leaders, while Won collected the massive pot to move to the top of the leaderboard.

Player	Chips	Progress
DW Donghyeon WonSouth Korea	1,840,000(61 BB)	1,365,000
JY Jingzhong YaoChina	busted	-1,140,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 10:11:00 AM

Hsun's Rise Continues

Level 24: 15,000 / 30,000 ante: 30,000

Liao Po Hsun

Hijack Liao Po Hsun opened the action, and Dmitrii Belikov defended his big blind.

Both players checked the T♦ 4♦ 3♣ flop.

When the T♠ paired the board, Belikov took the initiative with a 65,000 lead. Hsun responded with a raise to 160,000, and Belikov made the call.

The J♣ completed the board, and just before his shot clock expired, Hsun fired one final barrel, moving all in for 225,000. After using some time, Belikov elected to fold, surrendering the pot.

The hand continued Hsun's remarkable climb. After starting Day 2 with just 52,000 chips, he has now built his stack to approximately 710,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
DB Dmitrii BelikovRussia	785,000(26 BB)	-215,000
LP Liao Po HsunTaiwan	710,000(24 BB)	658,000

Level 24: 15,000 / 30,000 ante: 30,000

40 minutes

Remaining Players: 22/599

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 9:54:00 AM

No Third Trophy For Michl

Level 23: 10,000 / 25,000 ante: 25,000

Joris Michl

Joris Michl's bid for a third APPT Manila 2026 trophy came to an end with a 25th-place finish, setting the final three tables of the APPT National.

Michl remains the first and only player to have captured multiple trophies at this year's festival, having won both the Ultrastack and Hyper Turbo events.

His quest for an APPT National Shard Trophy fell short this time, but with plenty of events still on the schedule, the Dutch pro will have more opportunities to chase a third Spadie before the series concludes.

Recent Elimination 25-32

Place	Player	Prize (PHP)	Prize (USD)
25	JM Joris MichlNetherlands	91,000	$1,480
26	BY Benhur YbarsabalPhilippines	91,000	$1,480
27	EC Ellezer CastilloPhilippines	91,000	$1,480
30	EA Edgar AsehanPhilippines	78,000	$1,270
31	LT Lester TimoneraPhilippines	78,000	$1,270
32	KO Kosei OkadaJapan	67,000	$1,090
25	JM Joris MichlNetherlands	91,000	$1,480
26	BY Benhur YbarsabalPhilippines	91,000	$1,480
27	EC Ellezer CastilloPhilippines	91,000	$1,480
28	CP Chuyuan PengChina	78,000	$1,270
29	WL Wonjin LeeSouth Korea	78,000	$1,270
30	EA Edgar AsehanPhilippines	78,000	$1,270
31	LT Lester TimoneraPhilippines	78,000	$1,270
32	KO Kosei OkadaJapan	67,000	$1,090

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 9:45:00 AM

Bonanno Back From The Dead

Level 23: 10,000 / 25,000 ante: 25,000

James Bonanno

After losing a massive chip leader pot, James Bonanno looked all but out of contention with just 15,000 chips (less than a single big blind).

Since then, Bonanno has mounted an incredible comeback, stringing together a series of timely double ups to climb back to 485,000 chips, more than 20 times his lowest point.

What looked like an inevitable exit has turned into one of the biggest comeback stories of the day, keeping Bonanno firmly in the hunt as the field continues to shrink.

Player	Chips	Progress
JB James BonannoUnited States of America	485,000(19 BB)	470,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 9:30:00 AM

From 206K To 1.3M

Level 23: 10,000 / 25,000 ante: 25,000

Lukasz Jankowski

Lukasz Jankowski has surged to the top of the leaderboard, becoming the new chip leader with 1,300,000 chips.

The Polish pro began Day 2 with just 206,000 chips but has put together an impressive run, multiplying his stack more than sixfold to take control of the field as the tournament enters its later stages. With only a few tables remaining, Jankowski now sits in the driver's seat in the race for the APPT National title.

Player	Chips	Progress
LJ Lukasz JankowskiPoland	1,300,000(52 BB)	1,094,000

Level 23: 10,000 / 25,000 ante: 25,000

40 minutes

Remaining Players: 28/599

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 9:04:58 AM

One River, One Massive Swing

Level 22: 10,000 / 20,000 ante: 20,000

Gary Guerrero

With around 700,000 already in the middle and the board reading 9♣ 3♦ 2♠ 5♣ 5♦, Gary Guerrero moved all in for his remaining 285,000. James Bonanno wasted no time making the call.

Gary Guerrero: A♥ 5♥

James Bonanno: T♥ T♠

Bonanno tabled an overpair, but Guerrero had rivered trip fives to take the lead.

The massive pot was pushed to Guerrero for a crucial double up, while Bonanno was left with less than one big blind after the hand.

Player	Chips
GG Gary GuerreroPhilippines	1,270,000(64 BB)
JB James BonannoUnited States of America	15,000(1 BB)

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 8:45:00 AM

Chip Leaders!

Level 22: 10,000 / 20,000 ante: 20,000

Phenix Oesterstroem

Top 10 Chip Count

Player	Chips	Progress
PO Phenix OesterstroemSweden	1,155,000(58 BB)	488,000
JY Jingzhong YaoChina	1,140,000(57 BB)	100,000
KK Kunwoo KimSouth Korea	1,050,000(53 BB)	808,000
DB Dmitrii BelikovRussia	1,000,000(50 BB)	624,000
JS Juhyung SonSouth Korea	940,000(47 BB)	212,000
WL Wonjin LeeSouth Korea	785,000(39 BB)	641,000
GB Gary BellchambersUnited Kingdom	775,000(39 BB)	540,000
IH Isaac HechanovaPhilippines	760,000(38 BB)	517,000
RM Rafael MedelPhilippines	695,000(35 BB)	584,000
JM Joris MichlNetherlands	640,000(32 BB)	-45,000

Level 22: 10,000 / 20,000 ante: 20,000

40 minutes

Remaining Players: 32/599

Break

15 minutes

Remaining Players: 32/599

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 8:15:00 AM

Down To Final Four Tables

Level 21: 8,000 / 16,000 ante: 16,000

The field has now been trimmed to the final four tables, with just 32 players remaining in contention for the APPT National title.

Here are the latest players to exit the tournament:

Recent Elimination 33-45

Place	Player	Prize (PHP)	Prize (USD)
33	RP Rafael PresnedePhilippines	67,000	$1,090
34	RE Rudy EdenataIndonesia	67,000	$1,090
35	IN Ishan NadkarniIndia	67,000	$1,090
36	LH Loren HarrisUnited States of America	67,000	$1,090
37	IG Insuk GoSouth Korea	67,000	$1,090
38	MC Marciel CerbitoPhilippines	67,000	$1,090
39	IT Ivan TanSingapore	67,000	$1,090
40	XF Xiaohua FuChina	58,000	$945
41	JC John Clyde TanPhilippines	58,000	$945
42	PS Pradeep SinghIndia	58,000	$945
43	JS Joseph SiaPhilippines	58,000	$945
44	FE Feras ElnatshaUnited Arab Emirates	58,000	$945
45	CS Christoph SchumannAustralia	58,000	$945

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 8:05:00 AM

Timonera Pushes Chea Off

Level 21: 8,000 / 16,000 ante: 16,000

Lester Timonera

Table chip leader Chee Chuan Chea opened to 36,000, and Lester Timonera defended from the button.

The flop came Q♦ 7♥ 7♠, where Chea continued for 40,000.

Timonera burned a time bank before raising to 105,000. After a brief pause, Chea gave it some thought but ultimately believed the story and laid his hand down, conceding the pot to Timonera without further resistance.

Player	Chips	Progress
CC Chee Chuan CheaMalaysia	958,000(60 BB)	282,000
LT Lester TimoneraPhilippines	644,000(40 BB)	439,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 7:52:00 AM

Yao Claims Another Victim

Level 21: 8,000 / 16,000 ante: 16,000

Insuk Go

Facing a minimum raise, Insuk Go three-bet shoved for 152,000. Sitting on his left, Jingzhong Yao made the call, forcing the initial raiser to quickly fold.

Insuk Go: 8♠ 8♥

Jingzhong Yao: A♦ A♠

Go was left searching for just two outs, and the 9♦ 9♠ 9♣ flop all but sealed his fate, leaving him needing running eights to make quads. The Q♦ turn and 4♣ river offered no miracle.

The pot gave Yao his third elimination of the day so far, and his stack has now climbed well into the millions, further strengthening his position as one of the tournament's biggest stacks.

Player	Chips	Progress
JY Jingzhong YaoChina	1,040,000(65 BB)	100,000
IG Insuk GoSouth Korea	busted	-244,000

Level 21: 8,000 / 16,000 ante: 16,000

40 minutes

Remaining Players: 37/599

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 7:36:04 AM

New Chip Penalty System Implemented

Level 20: 6,000 / 12,000 ante: 12,000

APPT Manila 2026 has officially introduced the chip penalty system, following the updated rules discussed during last month's TDA Summit.

The new format replaces the traditional hand penalty system with penalties issued through tournament chips. For minor violations such as acting out of turn, players will receive a chip penalty instead of losing hands.

A one-hand penalty is equivalent to the current small blind, while a one-round penalty equals 2.5x the current big blind. The final penalty will still depend on the severity of the violation and the tournament staff's decision.

The penalty chips will be removed from play and taken out of the tournament.

The positive change for players is that after paying the minimum penalty of one small blind, they will still have the chance to participate in the hand instead of automatically sitting out.

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 7:29:00 AM

Four Players, One Winner

Level 20: 6,000 / 12,000 ante: 12,000

Rafael Presnede

Under the gun, Kaoru Kishimoto opened to 24,000 and picked up three callers.

The K♠ T♠ 5♣ flop was checked around by all four players.

On the 5♥ turn, Jaecheol Lee led out for 15,000, and all three opponents called to see the river.

When the 7♦ completed the board, the action checked to Rafael Presnede in the cutoff, who fired 60,000 into the middle.

The bet proved enough to get the job done, as all three opponents quickly released their hands, awarding Presnede the pot without showdown.

Player	Chips	Progress
JL Jaecheol LeeSouth Korea	543,000(45 BB)	-8,000
RP Rafael PresnedePhilippines	500,000(42 BB)	170,000
EY Edison YuPhilippines	325,000(27 BB)	129,000
KK Kaoru KishimotoJapan	306,000(26 BB)	100,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 7:15:00 AM

Chen's Kicker Plays

Level 20: 6,000 / 12,000 ante: 12,000

Jingliang Chen

With around 154,000 already in the pot, Jingliang Chen moved all in for 165,000 on the J♦ 8♣ 2♦ 4♠ board.

Marciel Cerbito burned through two time banks before eventually making the call.

Jingliang Chen: A♥ J♥

Marciel Cerbito: J♣ 9♣

Both players had flopped top pair, but Chen's ace kicker had him comfortably ahead. The K♥ river changed nothing, allowing Chen to secure a full double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
JC Jingliang ChenChina	484,000(40 BB)	250,000
MC Marciel CerbitoPhilippines	102,000(9 BB)	-85,000

Level 20: 6,000 / 12,000 ante: 12,000

40 minutes

Remaining Players: 42/599

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 6:56:00 AM

Ong Falls, Red Dragon Awaits

Level 19: 5,000 / 10,000 ante: 10,000

Justin Ong

Justin Ong, the reigning APPT Manila 2025 Main Event champion and PokerStars Red Dragon winner, saw his APPT National run come to an end with a 46th-place finish.

Although he fell short of another deep run and final table appearance, Ong won't have to wait long for another shot at a trophy.

With PokerStars Red Dragon Day 1A already underway, he has wasted no time taking his seat to begin the defense of the title he won last year.

Recent Elimination 46-57

Place	Player	Prize (PHP)	Prize (USD)
46	JO Justin OngPhilippines	58,000	$945
47	AK Akshaya KothariIndia	58,000	$945
48	PC Patrick ClarkeIreland	58,000	$945
49	CC Carlo CalingasanPhilippines	58,000	$945
50	MS Maoqiang SunAustralia	58,000	$945
51	TK Teruhiko KabasawaJapan	58,000	$945
52	ZL Zhiqiang LiuChina	58,000	$945
53	MR Marc RiveraPhilippines	58,000	$945
54	ED Emelito Dela CernaPhilippines	58,000	$945
55	RM Ryo MatsuokaJapan	58,000	$945
56	RM Ryan MillingtonUnited Kingdom	51,000	$830
57	JL Jungkyu LeeSouth Korea	51,000	$830

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 6:44:00 AM

Yao Wins Crucial Flip

Level 19: 5,000 / 10,000 ante: 10,000

Jingzhong Yao

Patrick Clarke and Jingzhong Yao got involved in a heavy preflop betting war, with Yao moving all in for 473,000 and Clarke making the call.

Patrick Clarke: A♠ K♥

Jingzhong Yao: Q♥ Q♠

It was a classic flip, but no ace or king appeared as the board ran out 9♦ 6♣ 6♠ 5♠ 6♦, allowing Yao's pocket queens to hold.

After the dealer counted the stacks, Clarke was found to have slightly fewer than 473,000 chips, making him the player at risk. Yao collected the pot and sent Clarke to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
JY Jingzhong YaoChina	940,000(94 BB)	292,000
PC Patrick ClarkeIreland	busted	-315,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 6:30:00 AM

Chip Leaders!

Level 19: 5,000 / 10,000 ante: 10,000

Gunah Kim

Top 10 Chip Count

Player	Chips	Progress
GK Gunah KimSouth Korea	880,000(88 BB)	-320,000
JS Juhyung SonSouth Korea	728,000(73 BB)	133,000
JM Joris MichlNetherlands	685,000(69 BB)	339,000
CC Chee Chuan CheaMalaysia	676,000(68 BB)	232,000
PO Phenix OesterstroemSweden	667,000(67 BB)	430,000
JY Jingzhong YaoChina	648,000(65 BB)	-27,000
WL Wooseong LeeSouth Korea	588,000(59 BB)	223,000
JL Jaecheol LeeSouth Korea	551,000(55 BB)	47,000
BY Benhur YbarsabalPhilippines	515,000(52 BB)	226,000
DL Donghyeon LeeSouth Korea	475,000(48 BB)	336,000

Level 19: 5,000 / 10,000 ante: 10,000

40 minutes

Remaining Players: 50/599

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 6:04:00 AM

Final 50 Take A Break

Break

The remaining 50 players are now on a 15-minute break.

Break

15 minutes

Remaining Players: 50/599

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 6:00:00 AM

Dirty Board Sends Carreon Packing

Level 18: 4,000 / 8,000 ante: 8,000

Arriving at the table with the hand already wrapped up, a visibly frustrated Jayvon Carreon was still staring in complete disbelief at the cards spread across the felt:

Jayvon Carreon: Q♥ Q♠

Jingzhong Yao: T♠ T♦

The runout told the whole painful story. Carreon’s pocket queens had gone in way ahead of Yao’s tens, only for the J♣ 7♠ 8♥ 9♣ A♣ board to connect viciously for Yao with a straight.

Still shaking his head at the brutal beat, a stunned Carreon headed for the exit while Yao stacked up the mountain of chips.

Jingzhong Yao

Player	Chips	Progress
JY Jingzhong YaoChina	675,000(84 BB)	552,000
JC Jayvon CarreonPhilippines	busted

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 5:42:00 AM

Recent Elimination 58-72

Level 18: 4,000 / 8,000 ante: 8,000

Renato Villanueva Jr

Place	Player	Prize (PHP)	Prize (USD)
58	JC Jayvon CarreonPhilippines	51,000	$830
59	AJ Adrian JaymePhilippines	51,000	$830
60	RL Rakesh LalwaniIndia	51,000	$830
61	SS Siddarth SinghviIndia	51,000	$830
62	RV Renato Villanueva JrPhilippines	51,000	$830
63	AA Anant AcharyaIndia	51,000	$830
64	TA Taeil AhnSouth Korea	51,000	$830
65	TK Takeru KiyomotoJapan	51,000	$830
66	SA Saeed AlaviUnited States of America	51,000	$830
67	KD Kasuga DaiSouth Korea	51,000	$830
68	EN Eundong NohSouth Korea	51,000	$830
69	GT Gary ThompsonIreland	51,000	$830
70	JM Joseph MagnottiUnited States of America	51,000	$830
71	PB Peter BaterinaPhilippines	51,000	$830
72	SA Sameer AgarwalIndia	48,000	$780

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 5:30:00 AM

Million Chips For Kim

Level 18: 4,000 / 8,000 ante: 8,000

Gunah Kim

Start-of-day chip leader Gunah Kim has officially become the first player in the field to break the seven-figure barrier.

Kim pulled out well ahead of the pack, stacking up a massive 1,200,000 chips, a mountain that sits at roughly four times the current tournament average.

Player	Chips	Progress
GK Gunah KimSouth Korea	1,200,000(150 BB)	235,000

Level 18: 4,000 / 8,000 ante: 8,000

40 minutes

Remaining Players: 60/599

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 5:20:00 AM

Singh Doubles Through Champion

Level 17: 3,000 / 6,000 ante: 6,000

Pradeep Singh

Folded to the button, Okada Kickoff champion Renato Villanueva Jr. opened to 12,000. In the small blind, Pradeep Singh, who had already spun his 29,000 starting stack into 114,000, moved all in once again.

Villanueva Jr. burned through two time banks before eventually making the call.

Pradeep Singh: A♥ Q♠

Renato Villanueva Jr.: A♦ 9♦

Singh took control on the Q♣ T♠ T♦ flop with top pair, leaving Villanueva Jr. needing help. The 6♦ turn gave the defending champion additional outs with a flush draw, but the 6♣ river was no diamond.

Singh secured another double up, while Villanueva Jr. was left with just four big blinds.

Player	Chips	Progress
PS Pradeep SinghIndia	240,000(40 BB)	211,000
RV Renato Villanueva JrPhilippines	23,000(4 BB)	-187,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 5:02:00 AM

Former Champ Stays Alive

Level 17: 3,000 / 6,000 ante: 6,000

Nichols Manalo and Marc Rivera

Down to just 67,000 chips, former 2018 APPT Manila National Champion Marc Rivera open-shoved his remaining stack from under the gun.

The action folded around to Nichols Manalo in the big blind, who spent about a minute in the tank before making the call.

Marc Rivera: A♦ K♥

Nichols Manalo: K♣ J♦

Rivera was in prime position for a double-up, dominating Manalo's hand. The board ran out K♠ 5♠ 4♠ 7♥ 8♥, safe for Rivera as no jack appeared on the board.

Rivera secured a much-needed double-up to keep his hopes alive, though he still needs another push to reach the average chip stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
NM Nichols ManaloPhilippines	564,000(94 BB)	-111,000
MR Marc RiveraPhilippines	143,000(24 BB)	19,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 4:50:00 AM

Campomanes Bids Early Farewell

Level 17: 3,000 / 6,000 ante: 6,000

Florencio Campomanes

One of the biggest names in the local poker scene, Florencio Campomanes, has suffered an early exit after failing to spin up his short stack.

The former APPT Manila 2019 Main Event champion found himself nursing a micro-stack and was forced to make a move early in the day. However, the cards failed to cooperate, ending his run well short of the deep stage.

While Campomanes won't be lifting the trophy in this flight, the veteran local pro will no doubt be looking to bounce back in the upcoming events on the APPT Manila 2026 schedule.

Recent Eliminations 73-83

Place	Player	Prize (PHP)	Prize (USD)
73	CH Chin Hei ChanHong Kong	48,000	$780
74	JL Jaeil LeeSouth Korea	48,000	$780
75	EC Ellezer CastilloPhilippines	48,000	$780
76	LS Leon StewardPhilippines	48,000	$780
77	YP Yohn ParedesPeru	48,000	$780
78	WJ Wonseo JeongSouth Korea	48,000	$780
79	MB Michael BuezaPhilippines	48,000	$780
80	MV Melchor VasquezPhilippines	48,000	$780
81	FC Florencio CampomanesPhilippines	48,000	$780
82	JP John Paul SomeraPhilippines	48,000	$780
83	YN Yuki NishioJapan	48,000	$780

Level 17: 3,000 / 6,000 ante: 6,000

40 minutes

Remaining Players: 72/599

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 4:35:00 AM

Manalo Picks Off Bluff

Level 16: 2,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000

Nichols Manalo

Cutoff Ishan Nadkarni opened to 10,000, with Nichols Manalo calling on the button. From the big blind, Chee Chuan Chea squeezed to 35,000, and both opponents came along.

Chea continued for 30,000 on the K♦ 3♣ 2♣ flop, forcing Nadkarni out while Manalo made the call.

The 7♥ turn saw Chea fire another 60,000, and once again Manalo stuck around.

When the 9♣ completed the board, Chea sized down to 55,000 on the river. After a brief pause, Manalo made the call.

Chea tabled A♥ Q♥ for ace-high, while Manalo turned over K♠ 5♠ for top pair, good enough to pick off the triple barrel and drag in the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
NM Nichols ManaloPhilippines	675,000(135 BB)	226,000
CC Chee Chuan CheaMalaysia	444,000(89 BB)	-122,000
IN Ishan NadkarniIndia	160,000(32 BB)	-80,000

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 4:20:00 AM

Early Cashes Roll In

Level 16: 2,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000

Yuki Nishio

In just the first 10 minutes of Day 2, eight players have already collected their payouts and exited the tournament area.

Fortunately, there's no shortage of action waiting for them, as PokerStars Red Dragon Day 1A has just kicked off. For many of the early casualties, it's a quick trip from the payout desk straight back to the registration desk for another shot at an APPT Manila 2026 trophy.

Place	Player	Prize (PHP)	Prize (USD)
83	YN Yuki NishioJapan	48,000	$780
84	AC Aj Cris AcdalPhilippines	48,000	$780
85	SM Soichiro MatsumotoJapan	48,000	$780
86	SY Seung Yong YiSouth Korea	48,000	$780
87	MS Mathias SchellSwitzerland	48,000	$780
88	TN Thomas Neil BabingtonUnited States of America	48,000	$780
89	RS Ross Samuel BurrowsNew Zealand	48,000	$780
90	EM Eoghan Mac GabhannIreland	48,000	$780

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 4:05:00 AM

Shuffle up and deal!

Level 16: 2,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000

Cards are officially in the air for APPT National Day 2 at Okada Manila.

The final 90 players are back, all guaranteed a payday, but only one will walk away with the PHP 2.8 million top prize, the APPT National title, and an APPT Championship 2026 Package.

Follow Somuchpoker for live updates, chip counts, eliminations, and all the action throughout the day.

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

7/31/2026, 12:35:54 AM

APPT National Day 2: Gunah Kim Leads Final 90, PHP 2.8M Up For Grabs

Level 16: 2,000 / 5,000 ante: 5,000

Gunah Kim - APPT National Day 2 Chip Leader

The chase for the APPT National title resumes today as the final 90 players return to Cove Manila inside Okada Manila for Day 2.

Across three starting flights, the event attracted 599 entries, generating a PHP 15,526,080 (~USD 252,800) prize pool, almost doubling the PHP 8,000,000 (~USD 130,000) guarantee.

Gunah Kim enters Day 2 with a commanding chip lead after bagging 965,000 (193 big blinds), well ahead of second-placed Juhyung Son with 595,000 (119 big blinds). No other player finished the starting flights with more than 100 big blinds.

Every returning player has already secured a minimum payout of PHP 48,000 (~USD 780), but all eyes are on the PHP 2,800,000 (~USD 45,600) top prize.

The eventual champion will also receive the prestigious APPT Championship 2026 Package, while the 2nd to 4th place finishers will each earn a seat to the APPT Manila 2026 Main Event.

Cards go back in the air at 12:00 PM local time as the field moves one step closer to crowning the first APPT National champion of the series.

Follow the action with live chip counts, the updated payout list, and all the latest updates as the tournament progresses on Somuchpoker.

SMPSMP

7/30/2026, 7:52:24 PM

Final Day

Chip Counts

Player	Chips
GK Gunah KimSouth Korea	965,000
JS Juhyung SonSouth Korea	595,000
CC Chee Chuan CheaMalaysia	566,000
JL Jaecheol LeeSouth Korea	504,000
NM Nichols ManaloPhilippines	449,000
GG Gary GuerreroPhilippines	449,000
IT Ivan TanSingapore	425,000
XF Xiaohua FuChina	394,000
DB Dmitrii BelikovRussia	376,000
AK Akshaya KothariIndia	368,000
WL Wooseong LeeSouth Korea	365,000
JM Joris MichlNetherlands	346,000
JO Justin OngPhilippines	343,000
AD Arjun DhingraIndia	342,000
RP Rafael PresnedePhilippines	330,000
PC Patrick ClarkeIreland	315,000
CS Christoph SchumannAustralia	309,000
BY Benhur YbarsabalPhilippines	289,000
KO Kosei OkadaJapan	288,000
JB Joseph BieglerUnited States of America	280,000
RL Rakesh LalwaniIndia	278,000
ZL Zhiqiang LiuChina	265,000
SS Siddarth SinghviIndia	264,000
JC Jayvon CarreonPhilippines	263,000
TK Takeru KiyomotoJapan	262,000
IG Insuk GoSouth Korea	244,000
IH Isaac HechanovaPhilippines	243,000
KK Kunwoo KimSouth Korea	242,000
IN Ishan NadkarniIndia	240,000
PO Phenix OesterstroemSweden	237,000
GB Gary BellchambersUnited Kingdom	235,000
JC Jingliang ChenChina	234,000
RM Ryan MillingtonUnited Kingdom	217,000
AA Anant AcharyaIndia	214,000
RV Renato Villanueva JrPhilippines	210,000
LJ Lukasz JankowskiPoland	206,000
KK Kaoru KishimotoJapan	206,000
LT Lester TimoneraPhilippines	205,000
CP Chuyuan PengChina	198,000
EY Edison YuPhilippines	196,000
MC Marciel CerbitoPhilippines	187,000
CC Carlo CalingasanPhilippines	184,000
JB James BonannoUnited States of America	184,000
JC John Clyde TanPhilippines	167,000
JS Joseph SiaPhilippines	161,000
JP John Paul SomeraPhilippines	160,000
WL Wonjin LeeSouth Korea	144,000
RE Rudy EdenataIndonesia	140,000
LH Loren HarrisUnited States of America	139,000
DL Donghyeon LeeSouth Korea	139,000
JL Jungkyu LeeSouth Korea	134,000
AC Aj Cris AcdalPhilippines	131,000
EN Eundong NohSouth Korea	126,000
MR Marc RiveraPhilippines	124,000
TA Taeil AhnSouth Korea	123,000
JY Jingzhong YaoChina	123,000
IY Ibuki YamasakiJapan	118,000
MB Michael BuezaPhilippines	118,000
WJ Wonseo JeongSouth Korea	118,000
EA Edgar AsehanPhilippines	115,000
RM Rafael MedelPhilippines	111,000
SM Soichiro MatsumotoJapan	111,000
TK Teruhiko KabasawaJapan	104,000
SA Saeed AlaviUnited States of America	101,000
SH Suk Hyang JunSouth Korea	99,000
FE Feras ElnatshaUnited Arab Emirates	98,000
RM Ryo MatsuokaJapan	97,000
EC Ellezer CastilloPhilippines	97,000
LS Leon StewardPhilippines	95,000
JL Jaeil LeeSouth Korea	94,000
YP Yohn ParedesPeru	92,000
ED Emelito Dela CernaPhilippines	92,000
MS Maoqiang SunAustralia	92,000
TN Thomas Neil BabingtonUnited States of America	86,000
GT Gary ThompsonIreland	77,000
CH Chin Hei ChanHong Kong	71,000
SY Seung Yong YiSouth Korea	69,000
KD Kasuga DaiSouth Korea	67,000
AJ Adrian JaymePhilippines	65,000
YN Yuki NishioJapan	54,000
PB Peter BaterinaPhilippines	53,000
LP Liao Po HsunTaiwan	52,000
JM Joseph MagnottiUnited States of America	49,000
EM Eoghan Mac GabhannIreland	40,000
MV Melchor VasquezPhilippines	37,000
SA Sameer AgarwalIndia	36,000
MS Mathias SchellSwitzerland	33,000
PS Pradeep SinghIndia	29,000
FC Florencio CampomanesPhilippines	12,000
RS Ross Samuel BurrowsNew Zealand	12,000

Payouts

Place	Payout (PHP)	Payout (USD)
1	2,800,000	$45,540
2	1,750,000	$28,465
3	1,250,000	$20,330
4	970,000	$15,775
5	740,000	$12,035
6	570,000	$9,270
7	430,000	$6,995
8	340,000	$5,530
9	277,080	$4,505
10	225,000	$3,660
11	225,000	$3,660
12	186,000	$3,025
13	186,000	$3,025
14	158,000	$2,570
15	158,000	$2,570
16	137,000	$2,230
17	137,000	$2,230
18	119,000	$1,935
19	119,000	$1,935
20	119,000	$1,935
21	104,000	$1,690
22	104,000	$1,690
23	104,000	$1,690
24	91,000	$1,480
25	91,000	$1,480
26	91,000	$1,480
27	91,000	$1,480
28	78,000	$1,270
29	78,000	$1,270
30	78,000	$1,270
31	78,000	$1,270
32	67,000	$1,090
33	67,000	$1,090
34	67,000	$1,090
35	67,000	$1,090
36	67,000	$1,090
37	67,000	$1,090
38	67,000	$1,090
39	67,000	$1,090
40	58,000	$945
41	58,000	$945
42	58,000	$945
43	58,000	$945
44	58,000	$945
45	58,000	$945
46	58,000	$945
47	58,000	$945
48	58,000	$945
49	58,000	$945
50	58,000	$945
51	58,000	$945
52	58,000	$945
53	58,000	$945
54	58,000	$945
55	58,000	$945
56	51,000	$830
57	51,000	$830
58	51,000	$830
59	51,000	$830
60	51,000	$830
61	51,000	$830
62	51,000	$830
63	51,000	$830
64	51,000	$830
65	51,000	$830
66	51,000	$830
67	51,000	$830
68	51,000	$830
69	51,000	$830
70	51,000	$830
71	51,000	$830
72	48,000	$780
73	48,000	$780
74	48,000	$780
75	48,000	$780
76	48,000	$780
77	48,000	$780
78	48,000	$780
79	48,000	$780
80	48,000	$780
81	48,000	$780
82	48,000	$780
83	48,000	$780
84	48,000	$780
85	48,000	$780
86	48,000	$780
87	48,000	$780
88	48,000	$780
89	48,000	$780
90	48,000	$780